Light Up Your Life With Islam

Posts tagged ‘dua’

You’d often come across people who when they meet you say desperately, “please make dua for me”. Being a Muslim, this is a very common occurrence. Everyone is always in need of something and everyone wants their needs to be fulfilled, their problems to be solved, their supplications to be answered.

Some people are a little more far-sighted, they don’t just ask you to supplicate for them and let it be rather they want to know the ways or means through which supplications are accepted. If you are one of those people who want to know the secret recipe of acceptance of prayers, then go through the following story:

Sahih Bukhari, 3465:

Narrated Ibn `Umar:Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Once three persons (from the previous nations) were traveling, and suddenly it started raining and they took shelter in a cave. The entrance of the cave got closed while they were inside. They said to each other, ‘O you! Nothing can save you except the truth, so each of you should ask Allah’s Help by referring to such a deed as he thinks he did sincerely (i.e. just for gaining Allah’s Pleasure).’ So one of them said, ‘O Allah! You know that I had a laborer who worked for me for one Faraq (i.e. three Sas) of rice, but he departed, leaving it (i.e. his wages). I sowed that Faraq of rice and with its yield I bought cows (for him). Later on when he came to me asking for his wages, I said (to him), ‘Go to those cows and drive them away.’ He said to me, ‘But you have to pay me only a Faraq of rice,’ I said to him, ‘Go to those cows and take them, for they are the product of that Faraq (of rice).’ So he drove them. O Allah! If you consider that I did that for fear of You, then please remove the rock.’ The rock shifted a bit from the mouth of the cave. The second one said, ‘O Allah, You know that I had old parents whom I used to provide with the milk of my sheep every night. One night I was delayed and when I came, they had slept, while my wife and children were crying with hunger. I used not to let them (i.e. my family) drink unless my parents had drunk first. So I disliked to wake them up and also disliked that they should sleep without drinking it, I kept on waiting (for them to wake) till it dawned. O Allah! If You consider that I did that for fear of you, then please remove the rock.’ So the rock shifted and they could see the sky through it. The (third) one said, ‘O Allah! You know that I had a cousin (i.e. my paternal uncle’s daughter) who was most beloved to me and I sought to seduce her, but she refused, unless I paid her one-hundred Dinars (i.e. gold pieces). So I collected the amount and brought it to her, and she allowed me to sleep with her. But when I sat between her legs, she said, ‘Be afraid of Allah, and do not deflower me but legally. ‘I got up and left the hundred Dinars (for her). O Allah! If You consider that I did that for fear of you than please remove the rock. So Allah saved them and they came out (of the cave).”

Many of us might have read or heard this story in our childhood but did you ever notice how deep it is? This story tells us that one of the ways through which we can make sure that our dua is accepted is doing good deeds with sincerity. Yes, this is it!

If you do good deeds, Allah will be pleased with you and will answer your prayers. Even when you want something from humans, what do you do? You make them happy. You want a favour from someone, say, you want permission from your mother to go somewhere. What do you do? You clean your room and cupboards because you know it will please her and she just might give you permission. But this is the Creator we’re talking about. Not humans. He has no comparison with His creation. He is extremely merciful and always listening to us. Only we need to take the first step. Do things that please Him instead of just talking about it here and there. Good deeds are a means of earning blessings anyway.

Also, note the sincerity in the actions of these three people. All the things that they did weren’t very big or famous or done for the sake of people. No one applauded them for these deeds. They were everyday situations. And yet it is in everyday situations that we slip. We lose the little opportunities that come our way, thinking we’ll do the big stuff one day inshaAllah. But it is those little things that are actually more difficult to do, they require us to get out of our comfort zones ever so often and to make the right decision so many times a day. It is those little things that carry great khayr (good). Because no one is there to see you doing them, it’s a test if you’d do it or not because that would be really for Allah.

So if you have any problem in life, think, do I have any hidden good deeds in store that I can use in my dua and ask Him to grant me what I need?

May Allah make us of those who are given opportunities to do good, who recognize them and avail them only to seek Allah’s pleasure. Ameen.

“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Al-Baqarah 201)

I was just pondering over this and wondering, what does it not cover? Nothing! Think about it, whatever you could want possibly, it’s been asked for in this dua. The three portions of this dua tell us how our lives are basically divided into three things or the three things that we worry about.

First is this world. We want good in this world. A good life consisting of a good home, a good income, a good family, a good career, a good education, good friends, good food, good clothes, good character… and the list goes on. Even though this world is temporary but we still want the goodness in it and ask for it, which is not only natural but also recommended. Why live in misery?

Second is the hereafter. That is our eternal home. We’ll live there forever so obviously we want it to be good. We want that we not be called for questioning, we want that our bad deeds be overlooked and that our good scales become heavy. We get to drink from the fountain of Kauthar, we be in the company of the prophets and their companions. Also, that we get a place under the shade of the Throne…. and finally that we get into Paradise and that too the best one.

Third is the Fire. Now technically when we ask for good in the hereafter, it also includes that we be saved from the Fire as the Fire is bad, of course. But this kind of emphasizes that hereafter is the bigger concern as one part of this dua is dedicated to this world and the other two to the hereafter. Also, if I think about it, it makes me feel good to ask for being saved from the Fire. It sort of satisfies you, makes you feel you’ve asked for the whole thing because the Fire is so scary that it’ll be on your mind even if you ask for the good of the hereafter. And that is human nature. When we’re scared of something badly, we don’t just talk about the situation that is free of those fears but also about the fear itself. It’s like a catharsis.

So this third portion of the dua consoles me that I’m asking for being saved from the Fire, be it in the grave where it’ll be all dark and I’ll be alone or be it on and after the Day of Judgement i.e. the Fire in hell.

Now that you’ve asked Allah for these three things, don’t you get a feeling of completion? :)

Like this:

What if I tell you that I know a way that will ensure that all your prayers are answered, that none of your Du’aas will be rejected and anything that you ask for will be granted?
Wouldn’t you like to know what that way is? Wouldn’t you jump at the chance to avail that?

But…..what is that way? How can we achieve all this and more?

The answer to that, brothers and sisters, isn’t anything secret or hidden.

The answer has been there for ages. Actually, its been there for the last 1400 years.. We just didn’t look hard enough. We just didn’t pay much attention to it.

It is what Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala has promised His slaves every single day….every time he sits down to break his fast. The answer lies in the hadeeth of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) when he said:

“Indeed the fasting person has at the time of breaking the fast a supplication, which is not rejected.” (lbn Majah, Saheeh)

And he (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) also said: “Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father (parent), the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.” (al-Baihaqi, Saheeh)

In another hadeeth, he (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “There are in the month of Ramadhaan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and will be granted.” [Ahmad, Saheeh]

So Allah answers the Du`aa of the fasting person at Iftaar time.

But, alas, most of us are either unaware of this great blessing of Allaah or are too busy thinking about food at this time. Some of us are frying ‘samosas’ till the last minute, setting the table and preparing ‘hot’ food. Some are too busy talking, arguing about the exact time to break the fast, or watching television (may Allah protect us), reading the newspaper and some are even sleeping until after the Maghrib adhaan has been called! And some are busy filling up their plates even before the time to break the fast has entered!
Subhaan Allaah!

Allaah is promising us that He will answer our prayers and we are too busy to respond?!!

What a waste of a golden opportunity….a chance of a lifetime to have your supplications accepted!

What is the matter with us? Is food really the most important thing….the ultimate goal of our lives?!!

Is it food that Ramadhaan is all about?!!

Why do we not take full advantage of this great gift of Allah?

Don’t you see?!
Here is your chance to earn Jannah!
Now is the time to ask for forgiveness…for EVERYTHING you have EVER done….And He will forgive you.
Ask Him for guidance for you and your family and He will guide you.
Ask Him to solve all your problems, and He will find a solution for you.
Ask Him for this Dunyaa and He will grant it to you. And the Aakhirah….He will suffice you.

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“Du’aa’ should be made before iftaar (breaking the fast), at Maghrib, because this combines weakness and humility, and because he is still fasting. All of these are means of having one’s du’aa’ answered.”

It is said that the intelligent is the one who takes advantage of the situation. So don’t let this great opportunity pass you by.

Know that Allah listens to the fasting person’s supplication and answers it. So finish all your work and preparations 5 minutes before Iftaar time.

Teach this to your kids and your families and encourage them to do the same.

Don’t let the Dunyaa distract you.

Sit down peacefully, clear your mind of all thoughts, bow your head and raise those hands.

Go ahead and make use of this precious…. precious time when you are breaking your fast to ask Allah for all those things that would make your life easy in this world and in the Hereafter.
And do it with full faith and confidence that Allaah will surely respond.

Why wouldn’t He?? He said so and so He will.

May Allaah accept all of our Ibaadah and all our supplications and grant us Jannah. Ameen.

Dua of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) at time of Iftaar:
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) used to say:

Like this:

Whattey title, hm? Brings a nice fluttery feeling in your heart when you read the word. But then actually feeling it… Sigh! Its beyond words. So beautiful.

There is a certain kind of love which, when you go through, is at once wonderful and unique. Like no other love. And love of any kind is felt only when you know that person and it increases manifold if that person has been kind to you and has done a lot for you. Right?

I fell in love all over again with one such person, so much so, that I wanted to share it. :)

Unfortunately, people say that they don’t feel much love for that person, whom I consider so lovable. I think the reason might be because they do not even know what he was like, what was his character, what were his words. You just want to hang on to your loved one’s words, don’t you? And repeat them over and over again with a smile on your lips. And if those words are for you… Boy! You’re in the seventh heaven of delight. But what if you don’t even know what his words were? Wouldn’t that be a pity? :(

Yes, I love him with all my heart because he taught me how to live, he taught me how to walk, how to talk, how to eat, how to sleep, how to keep relations with my parents, my relatives, my friends, my enemies. He taught me how to think, he taught me how to be content, how to pray, how to deal with sadness, how to deal with illness. He taught me how to feel, how to smile, how to cry, how to deal with private stuff. Why did he do all that? Because he loved me. He loved me more than my own biological parents. He loved me so much that he wanted me to be saved from the biggest failure. He wanted to save me from being thrown into the Big Fire. The Fire that my very close ones don’t even care about. But he did. The Fire that will burn forever and will only increase, never decrease. The Fire that will be pitch dark and scary and there will be much pain and loneliness and yelling in it. He wanted to save me from that. He gave me tips that would save me from that biggest disaster. He prayed for me. He cried for me.

Should I still not feel his love? Do you not feel his love? Yes, I am talking about my beloved Prophet Muhammad

You are supposed to love him. If you do not, then get anxious. Your faith is in danger. You cannot be a Muslim until you love him more than anything. Get to know him. There is no way you can’t love him once you know what he did for you!

Read his ahadith, read Sahih Bukhari and you’ll hang onto each word. He taught you every single thing that you would ever need to know in your life about yourself, about others, about life itself.

Don’t you yearn to see his face shining like the sun and moon? :)

He’s not a thing of the past, only sincere for His Companions at that time. He loved you, the very person reading this.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited the verse about Ibraaheem (peace be upon him), “O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he verily, is of me” [Ibraaheem 14:36], and the verse in which ‘Eesa said, “If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily, You, only You, are the All‑Mighty, the All‑Wise” [al-Maa’idah 5:118]. Then he raised his hands and said: “O Allaah, my ummah, my ummah.” Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, said: “O Jibreel, go to Muhammad, although your Lord knows best, and ask him why he is weeping.” So Jibreel (peace be upon him) went to him and asked him, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him what he said, although He knows best. Allaah said: “O Jibreel, go to Muhammad and say: “I will make you pleased concerning your ummah and not displeased.”

One sign of his compassion and love towards his ummah was that he prayed for more blessing and goodness especially for those who believed in him and followed him without seeing him.

It was narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Glad tidings to the one who believed in me and saw me, and sevenfold glad tidings to the one who believed in me but did not see me.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out to the graveyard and said:
“Peace be upon the abode of believing people, and if Allaah wills we will join you soon. Would that I could see our brothers.” They said: Are we not your brothers, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: “You are my companions. Our brothers are those who have not come yet. I will reach the Cistern before them.” They said: O Messenger of Allaah, how will you recognize those of your ummah who came after you? He said: “Do you not see that if a man has a horse that has a white blaze and white feet among horses that are all black, will he not recognize his horse?” They said: Of course. He said: “They will come to me with bright faces and limbs (like the white markings of a horse) because of the traces of wudoo’, and I will reach the Cistern before them.”

The scholars have said that the wrath of Allaah and the Fire of Hell are the things that we fear the most, and we cannot be saved from them except at the hands of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The pleasure of Allaah and the garden of Paradise are the things that we want the most, but we cannot attain them except at the hands of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) referred to the former when he said: “The likeness of me and you is that of a man who lit a fire and grasshoppers and moths started falling into it, and he tried to push them away. I am seizing your waistbands and trying to pull you away from the Fire but you are trying to get away from me.”

See how much he loved us? But do you want to know what’s the cream of his love for us? He was given a free dua (prayer) that would be accepted. And he saved that for us! He will use that on the Day when we will be all alone and empty-handed and in need of someone’s help desperately. And at that time he will make dua for us. Isn’t that love, at its best? Imagine yourself getting the opportunity of a dua that would necessarily be accepted, would you ever save it for people who would disobey you (because intercession will be needed most by the disobedient ones) and you never even saw them? Never!!

Abu Hurairah r.a narrates from Rasool-Allah s.a.w, “Every Prophet had a special duaa which is accepted in the court of Allah. All Prophets were in quick in their duaas. On the day of Judgment, for the intercession of my Ummah, I have saved my duaa. My duaa will reach to every person in my ummah, who did not make any partners with Allah.” (Muslim)

Read the full account of his saved dua for us on the Day of Judgement and how it will happen,

It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us: “When the Day of Resurrection comes, the people will surge with each other like waves. They will come to Adam and say, ‘Intercede for us with your Lord.’ He will say, ‘I am not fit for that. Go to Ibraaheem for he is the Close Friend of the Most Merciful.’ So they will go to Ibraaheem, but he will say, ‘I am not fit for that. Go to Moosa for he is the one to whom Allaah spoke directly.’ So they will go to Moosa but he will say, ‘I am not fit for that. Go to ‘Eesa for he is a soul created by Allaah and His Word.’ So they will go to ‘Eesa but he will say, ‘I am not fit for that. Go to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).’ So they will come to me and I will say, I am fit for that.’ Then I will ask my Lord for permission and He will give me permission, and He will inspire me with words of praise with which I will praise Him, words that I do not know now. So I will praise Him with those words of praise and I will fall down prostrate before Him. He will say, ‘O Muhammad, raise your head. Speak and intercession will be granted to you, ask and you will be given, intercede and your intercession will be accepted.’ I will say, ‘O Lord, my ummah, my ummah!’ He will say, ‘Go and bring forth everyone in whose heart there is faith the weight of a barley-grain.’ So I will go and do that. Then I will come back and praise Him with those words of praise and I will fall down prostrate before Him. He will say, ‘O Muhammad, raise your head. Speak and intercession will be granted to you, ask and you will be given, intercede and your intercession will be accepted.’ I will say, ‘O Lord, my ummah, my ummah!’ He will say, ‘Go and bring forth everyone in whose heart there is faith the weight of a small ant or a mustard-seed.’ So I will go and do that. Then I will come back and praise Him with those words of praise and I will fall down prostrate before Him. He will say, ‘O Muhammad, raise your head. Speak and intercession will be granted to you, ask and you will be given, intercede and your intercession will be accepted.’ I will say, ‘O Lord, my ummah, my ummah!’ He will say, ‘Go and bring forth from the Fire everyone in whose heart there is faith the weight of the lightest, lightest grain of mustard-seed.’ So I will go and bring them forth.”

Remember that intercession will be only for those who do not associate partners with Allah and believe in Prophet Muhammad

Love him now, as much as you can! He did so much for you. And send peace and blessings on him.

Like this:

A few days ago I learnt a new word from a beloved teacher and it’s coming quite in handy. Read below and find out what it is…

“Make dua for me”, this is almost a cliché now.
Dua in the general sense means calling upon Allah. When do we usually make dua? After salah, after adhaan, during a journey, when it’s raining etc.
We do it in routine and so eventually it becomes a ritual. We make dua because we have to, we don’t really mean what we say or our heart is not really present during it.

Therefore, our connection with Allah weakens (something that should not happen in any case).

Now here comes the brand new word that I learnt: Munaajaat.Munaajaat means whispering, talking to Allah.

We need to talk to Allah like we talk to our very close friends.

Here’s the key:“Share with Allah there and then”.

Alright so this person said something to you and you’re dying to share it with your friend. Tell Allah about it and feel light right away.
You’re hurt, sad, in pain…tell Him, in your own common plain words.
You’re afraid that you might not be able to live up to your Ramdan resolutions….ask Him what to do. Tell Him you need His help.

What did Zakariyya A.S do? ‘Nidaa an Khafiyya’. He called upon His Lord in secret. How can you call and do it in secret at the same time? By doing it in your heart.

You know what? The best thing is you can share it with Him SWT without needing to send a text message, call or get home. You can talk to Him at the spot. Amazing!
No technology is as advanced as that.

You can have your lips tightly pressed together with your hand on your chin and you might be sitting in a gathering and still be pouring your heart out to Allah and no one would even know.

Guess what? I tried it and your desire to share it with SOMEONE actually does finish and you feel all light and satisfied. After all, He understands our problems best. He created us, didn’t He?

I’m not saying don’t share anything with your parents or friends at all but first share it with Allah!In fact, do munaajaat all the time!

Like this:

Since about a week I was contemplating what to write on my blog. (It’s not as if good things weren’t happening or anything but they just weren’t providing the impulse to write).

So yesterday we did Surah Yusuf in tarawih prayer. As I listened to its recitation it made my heart want to overflow. It brings to my memory the days in which whenever I used to get even a little bit low I started listening to Surah Yusuf and felt better instantly, like a pain-killer injection.

Why? Why Surah Yusuf?

Well to begin with, the Lord of the worlds labels the story of Yusuf A.S ‘Ahsan Al Qasas’, the best of stories!
Felt the impact of these two phrases? Lord of the worlds & best of stories? Yes? I know, it is just that strong. :)

There are lots of reasons of this being the best of stories, one striking one being that it’s 100% true.
But if we go into details we wont be able to talk about anything else.

So lets just discuss a few main pointers about how it provides solace.
(Gosh! How will I ever be able to narrow it down? :O)

Alright!First thing. What did Yusuf A.S do during all his problems? – Sabr. Something that we need every single minute of our life. Sabr = patience + steadfastness. Allah SWT tells us countless times in the Quran to do sabr, for success in both worlds. We believe that. But we’re humans and we learn best by examples, by stories. How do we teach kids the way of life? Through stories. So this story seems like my story, your story and we all relate to it, get clues and it helps us get on with sabr, thus get on with life.

Second thing. He was very very beautiful (we all have soft corner for that, right?) so that could be one reason too. Hehe! Just kidding. :D (Though he A.S WAS very beautiful).

Third thing. We think it’s impossible to be ‘good’ at all times, in all situations. Hello?! Yusuf A.S was no angel, he was a human being just like us. (Okay he was a Prophet, son of a Prophet, grandson of a Prophet, great-grandson of a Prophet but he was a human after all). Allah SWT tells us his story, why? So that we at least try to be some good. At least try to follow him. And trust me even a little following would be sufficient for us. :p

Fourth thing. He is called by his fellow in prison as ‘Ayyuhassideeq’, O man of truth! Despite all that he went through (he was separated from his beloved father, home –> thrown into a deep well –> taken into an unknown state –> sold as a slave –> tried to be forced into sin –> by his master’s wife –> accused when he was innocent –> finally was imprisoned) what did he not leave? Truth! He didn’t stop being truthful no matter what! Now imagine yourself in just one of the above mentioned situations. Or any difficult situation that you went through, what do we tend to let go off first of all? Truth. In order to save our neck we resort to lies easily. What about him A.S?

Fifth thing. He was at the peak of his youth and was tried to be lured into evil by his master’s wife. What did he do? He asked for Allah’s refuge and resisted. Didn’t ‘give in’. I used the word ‘give in’ because that’s what we do. We say it’s the environment, it’s not our fault, everyone does it, don’t we have a right to enjoy life? (He chose prison for himself, remember?). Dude! Get a grip and stop trying to give lame excuses when all along you know deep inside your heart that it’s wrong.

Sixth thing. The dua that Yusuf A.S makes at the end, I just love it. ‘ Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”‘ (Verse 101). Isn’t it simply beautiful? He calls Allah by a name that shows only love and then the next sentence shows the unwavering reliance and trust in Him. And then he asks two things which are indeed what are needed for the best of both worlds.

Last but not the least. Allah SWT says in the last verse of Surah Yusuf: ‘There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding.’ So that’s what we’re supposed to get from this story. Lessons. There are lots and lots of lessons in it. If you want to learn those lessons for your life, study/read/listen to Surah Yusuf yourself. :)

(If this post gets any longer you wont read it at all. So enough said).

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A Wise Person

‘A wise person is one who keeps a watch over his bodily desires and passions, and checks himself from that which is harmful and strives for that which will benefit him after death; and a foolish person is one who subordinates himself to his cravings and desires and expects from Allah the fulfilment of his futile desires.
-Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 66